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cnbc.com
Iran and Oman drafting protocol to 'monitor' Hormuz Strait traffic: IRNA
The Strait of Hormuz, the vital artery for global oil transit, has been effectively closed since the U.S.-Israel war on Iran started in late February.
bbc.com
Oil prices jump and shares drop after Trump threatens more Iran strikes
The US president said he'll bring Iran "back to the Stone Age" but gave no detail on ending the war.
cnbc.com
Tesla's stock drops more than 4% on disappointing deliveries report
Tesla is coming off a year of declining deliveries due in part to increased competition from rivals in China offering lower-cost models.
theguardian.com
Blue Owl Capital limits withdrawals after investors try to redeem $5.4bn
Private credit investment firm’s move is latest sign of crumbling confidence in unregulated lending marketA major private credit investment firm, Blue Owl Capital, has imposed a cap on withdrawals after investors tried to pull $5.4bn from two key funds, in the latest sign of crumbling confidence in the unregulated lending market.The New York-headquartered firm released filings on Thursday that showed a surge in redemption requests, with investors asking to take back 21.9% of the cash stored in Blue Owl’s $20bn (£15bn) Credit Income Corp fund between January and March. Meanwhile, investors requested 40.7% of funds from its $3bn tech lending fund. Continue reading...
bbc.com
National Minimum Wage rises this week
Around 2.7 million people are set to receive a pay rise this week as the national minimum wage goes up by 50p to £12.71 for over 21s.
cnbc.com
U.S. oil prices soar 10% as Trump's Iran war speech stokes fears of further escalation
Oil surged as Trump in his address to the nation on Iran war said that he expected the conflict to last another two to three weeks.
cnbc.com
European stocks finish in mixed territory amid volatile trading
Stocks listed in Europe recovered some early losses on Thursday before closing the session in mixed territory.
theguardian.com
Oil price jumps and markets slide after Trump warning to Iran
Brent crude rises 8% as US president vows to hit Iran ‘extremely hard’ over coming weeksBusiness live – latest updatesOil prices have soared after Donald Trump vowed in a televised speech to hit Iran “extremely hard” over the coming weeks, knocking hopes of a near-term end to the conflict in the Middle East.Brent crude prices jumped by as much as 8% on Thursday to $109.74 a barrel, reversing Wednesday’s drop when hopes of a de-escalation in the Iran war pushed the international benchmark below the $100-a-barrel mark at one point. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump administration prepares up to 100% pharmaceutical tariffs on some imported drugs
The Trump administration is preparing to impose new tariffs on drugmakers that have not struck deals with the president to lower their U.S. drug prices.
bbc.com
New laws to make it easier to cancel subscriptions
A crackdown on "subscription traps" could save the average person nearly £170 a year, according to the Department for Business and Trade.
cnbc.com
Blue Owl caps private credit funds redemptions at 5% after steep request levels
Blue Owl attributed the higher-than-usual requests to "heightened market concerns around AI-related disruption to software companies."
bbc.com
What is the triple lock and how much is the state pension worth?
The triple lock guarantees that the state pension is not overtaken by inflation or wage increases.
cnbc.com
Analysis: Trump's Iran speech ignores the risks of a return to the 1970s
Oil shocks crippled past presidencies. The Iran war is putting Trump into the danger zone.
theguardian.com
How could strait of Hormuz closure affect UK food and medicine supplies?
Effects of Iran’s blockade will depend on how long crisis lasts as disruption ripples through supply chainsMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe closure of the strait of Hormuz, the crucial oil and gas shipping route that has been blocked by Iran since the US-Israeli attacks began, is having ripple effects around the world, with most industries already grappling with rising energy costs. If the strait is not reopened, transport blockages across the Middle East could cause significant shocks to food and medicine supplies.No one knows how long the wider conflict will last, but governments are panicking about the implications. Yvette Cooper, the UK foreign secretary, is hosting a meeting with 35 other countries on Thursday to discuss reopening the strait. Here is what could happen in the UK if the blockade drags on. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Stellantis recalls 44,000 UK vehicles over fault that could cause fires
Affected cars include models in Peugeot, Citroën, Vauxhall, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Fiat brands made since 2023The European carmaker Stellantis has issued a recall for 44,000 UK vehicles after discovering a fault that could result in its cars catching fire.The fault has been found in certain models across its Peugeot, Citroën, DS Automobiles, Vauxhall, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Fiat brands, produced between 2023 and 2026. Key vehicles affected by the recall include the Citroën C3, Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Mokka. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Ready to be exploited’: amid rust, weeds and power cuts, Venezuelans hope for a new oil boom
The infrastructure is crumbling and the government shaky, but memories exist of an industry that once thrived off Venezuela’s vast reserves of crude – and could do again, despite the climate crisisAt Campo Boscán, a vast complex in western Venezuela, the drills, pumps and pipelines that extract crude oil operate amid decay: roads are broken, weeds grow everywhere and many wells run inside metal cages to prevent theft. Albenis Merchán, a drilling technician with 35 years’ experience, recalls better times as he drives his pickup through the desolate landscape.“We used to receive maintenance and safety training all the time. Supplies and spare parts were never lacking. Many things need to improve here to tap the full potential of this area,” he says. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
One year on from Trump's 'liberation day,' global investors are rethinking American exceptionalism
U.S. exceptionalism is "no longer automatic" among global investors, one market watcher told CNBC.
theguardian.com
Reform donor Nick Candy sells Chelsea mansion for reported £275m
Sale of Providence House believed to be the most expensive on record in LondonUK politics live – latest updatesNick Candy, the honorary treasurer of Reform UK and a major donor, has sold his mansion in the Chelsea district of London for a reported £275m.The property developer declined to comment on the transaction, which was first reported by Bloomberg, but it is believed to be the most expensive on record in London and one of the biggest in the world. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Lucky few Americans whose student debt was forgiven: ‘I hit the lottery’
Only a small fraction of about 43 million have had their debt cancelled, the relief for those who have is transformativeOf the roughly 43 million Americans carrying student loan debt – totaling nearly $1.7tn – only a small fraction have seen their balances erased. For those who have, the relief has been transformative, with several telling the Guardian how the forgiveness has reshaped financial futures and opened doors to new careers, stability and long-delayed life plans.“My loan was forgiven at the end of 2025 through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program,” said Laura Kluss, a 41-year-old clinical social worker based in Sacramento, California. “It was in the six figures at the time of forgiveness. Interest rates were making it extremely difficult to pay it down. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Novo Nordisk says Wegovy pill outperforms Lilly’s oral GLP-1 in cross-trial comparison
Novo and Eli Lilly are both trying to shape the narrative of their rival pills, considered to be the start of the next phase of the weight-loss drug era.
theguardian.com
Drivers told to look for cheapest fuel ahead of ‘busiest Easter on UK roads since 2022’
Bank holiday traffic predicted to peak on Thursday, as petrol and diesel prices surge from fallout of Iran warBusiness live – latest updatesUK drivers are being urged to look for the cheapest petrol and “to fill up as usual” as travellers prepare to make 21.7m journeys on what is expected to be the busiest Easter on the roads in four years.The average price of a litre of unleaded petrol rose by 20p in March, from 132.83p on the 1st to 152.83p on the 31st, raising concerns about the cost of filling up for Easter journeys. The higher fuel prices have been triggered by rising oil prices as a result of the US-Israel war against Iran. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘From high flyer to dead parrot’: former billion-dollar eco-shoe brand Allbirds sold for $39m
Once-hyped, celebrity-backed company snapped up by American Exchange Group for fraction of former valueBusiness live – latest updatesAllbirds, the San Francisco sustainable trainer brand once valued at more than $4bn, is being sold for just $39m (£29.6m) after global demand for its wool-based footwear failed to materialise.American Exchange Group, the owner of a string of brands including the fashion label Ed Hardy and the accessories maker Born, is snapping up the struggling company once touted as the future of footwear. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Rowntree’s trust appoints Keon West to tackle brand’s colonial history
Author and academic says role is a chance ‘to make real, meaningful changes’ as trust confronts enslavement linksIt’s a story that connects the inventors of the KitKat – the beloved British chocolate bar – with colonial history and its legacies.Now, the ways in which enslavement, indenture and European imperialism fed supply chains for Rowntree’s, the confectioners who invented Fruit Pastilles and Smarties as well as KitKat, are being confronted. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
More than half of World Cup countries face extra costs as Fifa fails to agree US tax deal
Fifa has not agreed tax exemption with US governmentBurden will fall disproportionately on smaller nationsMore than half the countries that have qualified for the World Cup are facing additional costs and potential losses due to Fifa’s failure to agree a blanket tax exemption with the United States government and significant variance in the host country’s international tax treaties.As a not-for-profit organisation Fifa has had tax-free status in the US since the 1994 World Cup, but that exemption does not apply to all of the 48 qualifiers, whose national associations must pay a range of federal, state and city taxes on their earnings from the tournament this summer. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump’s Iran timeline may not be short enough to avoid oil demand destruction
Oil prices surged by more than 60% in March as the U.S.-Iran war raged on.
theguardian.com
‘If he’d stayed on the golf course, we’d be in a better place’: experts on Trump’s tariffs, one year on
Last April, the president unleashed a tidal wave of tariffs on ‘liberation day’. Analysts say the policy has failed, even by the Trump administration’s own termsBefore Donald Trump declared “liberation day” on 2 April 2025 and shocked the world by raising import tariffs on nearly every country the US did business with, he had spent almost three months causing chaos in Washington.The wholesale slashing of government jobs under Doge (the “department of government efficiency”) and the defunding of US aid agencies had shown White House watchers that the US president was in a hurry to upset institutions he considered profligate or useless. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Why thousands of New Yorkers swap gas for induction stoves in clean energy push: ‘It makes sense’
US states from California to Georgia are promoting induction stoves for climate, health and cost benefitsMarcos Ramos hasn’t been able to cook a full meal at home in nearly four years, after a gas leak resulted in a lengthy supply cut off for his New York City apartment building.Now, though, Ramos will be able to cook again thanks to a technology that is gradually advancing in the US after being embroiled in an unlikely culture war – the electric induction stove. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Secondhand clothes sales forecast to hit $289bn as AI helps shoppers find deals
Sites such as Vinted and ThredUp expected to help resale grow twice as fast as overall clothing market in coming yearsBusiness live – latest updatesSecondhand clothing sales are forecast to surge 12% this year to $289bn (£217bn) and continue to step up, as AI and social media influencers help shoppers find the items they want.The rise of sites such as Vinted, Depop, Vestige and ThredUp is expected to power an average 9% annual growth over the next five years to reach $393bn, twice the pace of the overall clothing market. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Thames Water ‘close to deal that would spare it new Ofwat fines until 2030’
Offer reportedly put forward by creditors hoping to save struggling firm from being renationalised temporarilyBusiness live – latest updatesThames Water is said to be close to a deal with its regulator that would allow the company to avoid new fines for four years, as long as it commits to investing in the business.The controversial offer, reported by the Financial Times, has been put forward by creditors who are hoping to save the struggling utility from being temporarily renationalised. Continue reading...
bbc.com
A year on: Four ways Trump's tariffs have changed the global economy
US tariffs stand at the highest rate in decades. But what has the impact been?
theguardian.com
World’s oldest tortoise caught in viral crypto death scam
Fake X account posing as his vet sparked global false reports of Jonathan’s death while soliciting crypto donationsAt 194 years old, Jonathan the giant tortoise was a youngster when Queen Victoria ascended to the throne – and has now lived long enough to fall victim to a crypto scam.News outlets including the BBC, Daily Mail and USA Today falsely reported his death after an X account posing as Jonathan’s vet broke the news. Continue reading...
bbc.com
New laws to make it easier to cancel subscriptions and get refunds
Consumers will be able to cancel unwanted subscriptions 'at the click of a button', the government said.
cnbc.com
Trump’s threat to hit Iran 'extremely hard' jolts global stocks, bonds and oil
Investor sentiment quickly soured as Trump's speech went on, sending assets across the board lower in international markets.
cnbc.com
Asia-Pacific markets plunge as oil surges after Trump's speech on Iran war
During his speech, Trump reiterated that the U.S. objectives in Iran were almost met and said that "we have all the cards" in the conflict.
bbc.com
Petrol and diesel prices see biggest rise on record in March
The cost of filling a vehicle jumped at the sharpest pace than any other month, the RAC said.
bbc.com
Elon Musk's SpaceX set to be worth $1 trillion with planned public listing
The company’s public stock debut is set to be one of the most valuable in history, and could make Musk the world's first trillionaire.
theguardian.com
Trump’s trade war put the UK on the back foot. His actual war may break us | Larry Elliott
The government looks ill prepared for the coming stagflation storm – its ‘keep calm and carry on’ approach won’t survive a blast of realityBritain is facing the most severe energy shock since the early 1970s, but have no fear: the government has a plan. Details of said plan are still a little sketchy, but will be unveiled in the fullness of time. No need to panic. Keep calm and carry on.It remains to be seen whether the UK is better prepared to cope with the fallout from Donald Trump’s war with Iran than it was with the pandemic six years ago. To be honest, that wouldn’t be difficult. Yet it is not exactly comforting that ministers are sending out a “we have your back” message to the public while at the same time seeking to reassure the financial markets that any help will be limited and targeted.Larry Elliott is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK looks to relax planning rules for factory farms after industry lobbying
Exclusive: documents chronicle years-long campaign to make it easier to build intensive livestock unitsMinisters are rewriting planning rules to make it easier to build intensive livestock farms despite concerns about water pollution, air quality and local opposition.Documents obtained by the Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act show that proposed changes to the national planning policy framework (NPPF) were discussed by ministers and officials in response to concerns of the country’s leading chicken producers, who have been lobbying on the issue for at least two years. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Trump threatens to put Iran in 'stone ages,' dampening ceasefire hopes
Asia-Pacific markets reacted negatively to Trump's speech, while oil prices jumped
bbc.com
Families praise charity for Easter holiday support
Live Well North East holds fitness classes for parents which cost £4 but offers free childcare.
theguardian.com
How Trump, Musk and Doge shattered the US government – podcast
In the end, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or Doge, sort of just … fizzled out. So did Musk save the taxpayer any money? What happened the people who lost their jobs in the mass bureaucratic culling? What services were affected? Will Americans ever trust their government again?Jonathan Freedland speaks to author Sasha Abramsky about his new book, American Carnage: How Trump, Musk, and DOGE Butchered the US Government, and about what lasting legacy of Doge will beArchive: CBS News, ABC News, CNBC, Fox11 Los Angeles, Fox13 Seattle, Bloomberg, Fox News Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘We’re trapped’: developer’s unpaid debt leaves London flat owners unable to sell
Hackney leaseholders feel council made the problem worse by leaving £850,000 debt uncollected for eight yearsLeaseholders in east London have said they are “trapped in unsellable homes” because of an £850,000 debt owed by the building’s developer to Hackney council, who have let it go unpaid for eight years.The 17 leaseholders, who live in a block of flats in Upper Clapton, have appealed to the council for help but their pleas, including requests for a meeting, have been ignored. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Kids would rather be down the park’: readers reflect on child-free pubs
With public houses increasingly restricting or banning children, we asked for your thoughts on adult-only pubsA growing number of pubs in the UK are restricting or banning children, citing safety concerns, changing atmospheres and lost trade. We asked people their thoughts on adult-only pubs.Many who contacted us supported child-free pubs, believing adult-only spaces were important, but a good proportion said they would change their mind if children were “properly supervised by parents”. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Oil supply crunch will worsen in April, IEA warns as it weighs releasing more strategic reserves
The organization’s Executive Director Fatih Birol also warned that the Iran war had created the worst oil crisis in history.
theguardian.com
Next week’s disability cuts will make people destitute – and you might not understand how bad they are until it’s too late | Frances Ryan
If new claimants don’t meet strict criteria, they’ll lose half of the health element of universal credit. Don’t ignore that: in life’s lottery, that could easily be youLook at the front pages or open a news app in the coming days and you’ll supposedly see the big events facing Britain. But here’s one that is likely to slip quietly under the radar: from next week, almost three-quarters of a million of the most severely ill and disabled people in the country could end up having a lifeline benefit cut in half.Cast your mind back to last summer. As the nation sweated through a heatwave and Oasis reunited, ministers were trying to push through “welfare reform” – a nice euphemism for £5bn worth of cuts to disability benefits. A backbench rebellion meant that Keir Starmer was forced to halt his overhaul of personal independence payments (Pip), but MPs voted through a brutal universal credit cut. Ministers justified reducing support for people too disabled or ill to work by arguing it would remove the “perverse incentives” that discourage employment and trap people on long-term benefits, as if a twentysomething who is bedbound with ME just needs “incentivising” to get back to the building site.Frances Ryan is a Guardian columnist and the author of Who Wants Normal? Life Lessons from Disabled Women Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Larva lamped: Colin the Caterpillar loses to eight lookalikes in cake taste test
Which? testers complain M&S sponge is ‘too dry’ as Waitrose’s Cecil tops the tree with ‘best buy’ gongAfter a busy 35 years as a British party favourite, not to mention a bruising court battle with an alleged copycat, you might think Colin the Caterpillar had earned his place at the top.But the “original” chocolate caterpillar cake has now been labelled the worst, bested by lookalikes in a taste test. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Drive slower, work from home and ditch the tie: the world responds to Iran war energy crisis
Oil crisis triggered by blockade of strait of Hormuz prompts emergency measures to protect supply and halt rising pricesShrinking fuel stocks and soaring prices are leading countries around the world to burn coal, ration fuel, shorten work weeks and tell citizens to stay at home.Fossil fuel supplies have reduced since the war against Iran led to the closure of the strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route for oil and seaborne gas. The shortfall has prompted emergency measures as government’s attempt to halt rising costs that have thrown economies into chaos. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
EV demand is getting a boost from the Iran war — just as auto giants pivot back to combustion engines
Various car selling platforms have reported a sharp increase in consumer interest for EVs since the Middle East crisis began.
theguardian.com
Chris Rokos: the camera-shy billionaire behind the biggest UK university donation in modern times
The 55-year-old is one of the most successful hedge fund managers of his generationWhen Chris Rokos decided to donate a record £190m to the University of Cambridge to set up a “school of government” this week, it became the latest mega project carried out in the hedge fund billionaire’s name.The publicity-shy tycoon has spent much of the last decade presiding over one of England’s most expensive home renovations ever, of the 200-room Tottenham House mansion near Marlborough in Wiltshire, adding a tennis pavilion and private cinema in the £175m revamp. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Labour’s mistakes: is it too late to turn things around? – podcast
In part one of a special two-part interview, Kiran Stacey talks to the political scientist Prof Robert Ford about Labour’s so-called ‘landslide win’, the long-lasting impact of Brexit on our politics, and the lessons that should have been learned from the 2024 election. Is it now too late for Starmer to turn things around?Buy Prof Robert Ford’s latest book, The British General Election of 2024, here Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Inside India newsletter: The worst might not be over for Indian equities
Indian equities plunged as the Iran war triggered a record wave of foreign investor sell‑offs. Experts warn the downturn may not be over yet.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: All eyes on Trump address as markets rise on ceasefire hopes
All eyes are on U.S. President Donald Trump's national address this morning, as investors hope that a resolution to the Iran war could be coming soon.
cnbc.com
Globalstar stock surges 15% on report Amazon is weighing an acquisition
A deal with Globalstar could bolster Amazon Leo, the company's nascent internet-from-space service, which has about 200 satellites in orbit.
theguardian.com
Global super-rich may have hidden $3.55tn from tax officials, says Oxfam
Charity calls for a levy on the very richest and the closing of tax loopholes in its report on offshore wealthThe global super-rich may have as much as $3.55tn hidden away from tax authorities, according to estimates by Oxfam.The charity renewed its call for a wealth levy and urged governments to close tax loopholes as it published its latest analysis of the scale of offshore holdings. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Oracle layoffs will help cost savings, analysts say
Oracle plans to cut thousands of jobs which will free up cash flow as the company aggressively invests in its AI data center buildout.
cnbc.com
Eli Lilly opposes push to pass Trump's drug pricing deals into law, CEO says
Eli Lilly opposes the White House's push to codify "most favored nation" drug pricing into law, CEO Dave Ricks said in an interview with CNBC.
cnbc.com
SpaceX confidentially files for IPO, setting stage for record offering
Elon Musk's SpaceX is reportedly targeting a valuation of around $1.75 trillion in its forthcoming IPO.
theguardian.com
A third inflationary shock in less than a decade is coming: who will pay the price this time around? | Aditya Chakrabortty
Brutal past experience has taught us that a cost of living crisis doesn’t affect us all the same, because we don’t all go into it with the same income or wealthPerhaps the most celebrated writer on oil markets is Daniel Yergin. His work has won a Pulitzer and his advice sought by every president from Bill Clinton to Donald Trump. Let’s start by looking at an example.Fifteen years ago, before the US and Israel started their war on Iran, killing thousands of civilians in the process, before the strait of Hormuz became as infamous as the Bermuda Triangle, and before experts declared “the greatest global energy security threat in history”, Yergin published The Quest: Energy, Security and the Remaking of the Modern World. After hearing Trump announce a “very soon” end to the conflict for the second – or was it the third? – time, I dug out my copy. Just as I remembered, it devotes a chapter to the Persian Gulf.Aditya Chakrabortty is a Guardian columnistDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Starmer’s ‘five-point plan’ was not a plan | Nils Pratley
Two of the points were measures on energy bills from the autumn budget, another restated the existing energy strategy‘We have a five-point plan for the immediate crisis,” declared the prime minister during his remarks from Downing Street on Wednesday. Really? Two of his five points were measures on energy bills that pre-date the Iran war. One was a description of support for a sub-set of consumers but dodged the key question of who else could get help.Another stated the government’s longstanding energy strategy in unchanged terms. The last was a diplomatic policy, presumably shoehorned into the cost-of-living passage because a five-point plan sounds better than a four-point one. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump calls U.S. 'STUPID' for birthright citizenship after attending Supreme Court arguments
Trump's executive order says babies born in the U.S. are not entitled to citizenship if their parents are illegal immigrants or undocumented workers.
cnbc.com
FDA approves Eli Lilly's GLP-1 pill, opening the next phase of the weight loss drug market
The FDA approval of Eli Lilly's GLP-1 pill Foundayo comes nearly three months after Novo Nordisk's oral version of Wegovy hit the market.
cnbc.com
Private sector hiring totaled 62,000 in March, better than expected, ADP says
Private sector employment growth kept pace, but health care and construction continued to provide nearly all the momentum.
cnbc.com
Trump says Iran's president asked for ceasefire, but U.S. wants Hormuz Strait open first
The war began in late February when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, causing economic turmoil and massive global energy disruptions.
theguardian.com
Apple at 50 quiz: top sellers, turkeys and turtlenecks
How much do you know about the history of one of the most powerful computing companies on the planet?In the 50 years since it was founded, Apple has long been seen as one of the most significant technology companies globally. The design and manufacturing decisions taken in Cupertino, California have affected product design across the world, helping usher in an era of ubiquitous touchscreen computing while insisting on exacting user experience design principles. How much do you know about the history of one of the most powerful computing companies on the planet? Test yourself with these 12 questions.The Guardian’s Apple at 50 quiz Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Iran threatens Nvidia, Apple and other tech giants with attacks
Iran's Revolutionary Guard has warned a number of tech companies with Middle East operations that they'll be considered "legitimate targets."
theguardian.com
‘Fossil-fuel imperialism’: Trump’s hankering for Iranian oil runs deep
Experts say the US believes it is entitled to resources it desires – a perspective president has supported for decadesDonald Trump said this past weekend he wants to “take the oil in Iran” by seizing control of a key export hub, echoing a refrain he has returned to for over a decade.It’s a sign of his disregard for international law and belief in “fossil-fuel imperialism”, experts say. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Would more North Sea drilling mean lower energy prices for UK consumers?
Kemi Badenoch claims increased UK oil and gas production would cut bills by £200, but critics say plan won’t workOil prices hit $100 a barrel soon after the US and Israel launched their attack on Iran, and though prices have wobbled since, ongoing supply issues from the partial closure of the strait of Hormuz mean they could leap higher, to $150 a barrel or more, by some estimates.The impacts could be severe – not just increases in the price of petrol, and oil for home heating, but also in the cost of gas, with knock-on inflationary pressures on food, consumer goods and industrial components. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Minimum wage rises to £12.71 an hour as firms warn of impact
Many businesses have said they will have to pass higher wage costs onto customers.
bbc.com
Warning Iran war 'shock' could push up mortgages for 1.3m homeowners
Higher energy prices could lead to higher borrowing costs for homeowners, the Bank warns.
theguardian.com
Iran war may increase mortgage payments for extra 1.3m households, says Bank of England
Financial policy committee predicts ‘Trumpflation’ rises, as average two-year fixed rate hits 5.84%Business live – latest updatesThe US-Israel war on Iran could end up increasing monthly mortgage payments for more than one million more UK households, the Bank of England has predicted, adding that the conflict had dealt “a substantial negative supply shock” to the world economy.Financial market jitters over the conflict in the Middle East have resulted in banks pulling about 1,500 mortgage products, with many banks raising interest rates on their remaining 7,000 home loan products in recent weeks, the Bank’s financial policy committee (FPC) said. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Tourists flock to Paris, cheapest capital in Europe – archive, 1926
With restaurants and music halls at half London prices, holidaymakers are pouring into the city for EasterFrom our own correspondent 3 April 1926 Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Lunar prospectors: the businesses looking to mine the moon
Within the lunar dirt is a type of helium so rare on Earth that a palm-sized container is estimated to be worth millions‘This was the real thing’: Meet the woman who alerts the world when an asteroid could hit‘This feels fragile’: how a satellite-smashing chain reaction could spiral out of controlIn the silent vacuum of space, five autonomous robots churn through the lunar surface, digging up a loose layer of rock and dust and leaving rows of uniform tracks in their wake.Stopping only to recharge at a central solar power station, the car-sized machines process the lunar dirt internally to extract a type of helium so rare on Earth that a palm-sized container is estimated to be worth millions. Once processed, the precious resource is loaded into a launcher and ejected back to Earth. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Topps Tiles to close 23 stores over rising costs
Topps Tiles says eight stores have already closed - with the rest to shut over the next six months.
bbc.com
Oil briefly falls below $100 and shares jump on Trump Iran war pledge
European stock markets opened higher after the US president said the conflict would "end very soon".
cnbc.com
Big Japanese companies are feeling optimistic despite the Iran war — but it might not last
The positive sentiment may not fully capture the impact from the Iran war, analysts said, as Japan's Tankan survey period ended in March.
bbc.com
Estate agents accuse Rightmove of charging excessive fees
The online listing portal is now being pursued in a class action, launched on behalf of potentially hundreds of estate agents.
bbc.com
Energy bill help would be based on household income, Reeves says
The chancellor tells the BBC it is "too early" to say exactly who would get help but hinted any support would not arrive until the autumn.
theguardian.com
Cost of living: get ready for ‘awful April’ bill increases
From council tax to water, broadband to stamps, the annual round of price rises starts on 1 April … and that’s before any fallout from Iran warUK savers told to act now before Easter Sunday cash Isa deadlineBritons will typically see more than £200 added to their household bills this year as “awful April” price increases kick in.The annual rises are particularly unwelcome as the financial turmoil caused by the Middle East conflict has pushed up mortgage rates, fuel prices and energy bills for rural households. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Thousands lose their jobs in deep cuts at tech giant Oracle
It is thought that thousands of people may have lost their jobs at Oracle, one of the world's largest tech companies.
theguardian.com
Revealed: the vast illegal casino network targeting UK gamblers
Calls for tougher laws as network stretching from Caribbean to Georgia generates riches for offshore tycoons by appearing to prey on the vulnerableImmaculately groomed and beaming from ear to ear, Andres Markou looks every inch the golden boy of the gambling sector. The youthful boss of MyStake, a fast-growing digital casino, has been pictured shaking hands with the Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho over a lucrative branding partnership.Elsewhere, he can be seen collecting industry awards, or offering “visionary” insights to interviewers. There is only one hurdle blocking Markou’s ascent to the very top of his trade: he does not exist. Continue reading...
bbc.com
IndiGo names former British Airways chief Willie Walsh as CEO
The announcement comes days after former CEO Pieter Elbers quit in the backdrop of a flight cancellation crisis.
theguardian.com
Delayed by EU entry/exit system? Then travel light
Only way to avoid missing a flight because of EES rules: squeeze everything into a cabin bag and skip luggage check-inTravellers to the EU risk missing their flights because bag drop-off times don’t allow for the long queues to get through a new security system.My family of four missed our easyJet flight home from Málaga because, although we followed advice from the airport and arrived three hours before departure, the bag drop-off didn’t open until two hours before. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
I wore Meta’s smartglasses for a month – and it left me feeling like a creep
Content creators love the built-in camera; sceptics call them ‘pervert glasses’. Do we really need any more hi-tech wearables, even with a voice assistant that sounds like Judi Dench?Lately, I’ve been hearing Judi Dench’s voice in my head. She tells me tomorrow’s forecast, when to turn right, that there’s been another message in my group chat. Day or night, Dame Judi is eager to assist. When I ask the eight-time Academy Award nominee what I’m looking at, she answers: a residential area, a person in a pub, daffodils. “They are a bright yellow colour and are often associated with spring.”This isn’t a delusion. This is, apparently, progress. I am test-driving Meta’s smartglasses and Dench voices its integrated AI assistant: “Here to chat, answer questions, create images and provide advice and inspiration,” said “Judi” when I selected her over the actors John Cena and Kristen Bell. “Shall we begin?” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
From the archive: the butcher’s shop that lasted 300 years (give or take) – podcast
We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors.This week, from 2020: Frank Fisher, now 90, was a traditional high street butcher his whole working life – as were three generations of his family before him. How does a man dedicated to serving his community decide when it’s time to hang up his white coat?By Tom Lamont. Read by Jonathan Andrew Hume Continue reading...
bbc.com
From water to council tax: How the bill rises (and one drop) affect you
A string of bill increases have taken effect but minimum wage and benefit rises will help some to pay them.
bbc.com
Asia's migrant workers debate if Gulf jobs are worth deadly risk of Iran war
Iran's strikes on Gulf states have been especially hard for migrants who have long supported these economies to lift their families back home from poverty.
bbc.com
Oil nears highest price since start of Iran war
The US-Israel Iran war has halted almost all traffic in a key waterway and the price Brent crude has surged.
cnbc.com
Oracle cutting thousands in latest layoff round as company continues to ramp AI spending
Oracle has ratcheted up its capital expenditures as it builds data center infrastructure that can handle AI workloads.
bbc.com
US petrol price tops $4 for first time since 2022
The Iran war continues to push up prices at the pump for US motorists.
bbc.com
Denby appoints administrators in 'necessary step'
The 217-year-old firm says it appointed FRP Advisory as administrators on Tuesday.
bbc.com
'I sent eight letters': Drivers hope for payout from car finance redress scheme
Millions of motorists could be entitled to compensation with the financial regulator setting out how to apply
bbc.com
How will car finance compensation payments work?
Millions could be entitled to compensation as a result of commission arrangements between lenders and dealers.
bbc.com
Housing market to soften amid Iran war fallout, Nationwide says
The lender says the market regained momentum in March, but rising mortgage and energy costs could hit consumer confidence.
bbc.com
Korean Air takes emergency action as fuel prices soar
Many airlines are taking measures to deal with the economic impact of the Iran war.
cnbc.com
CNBC's The China Connection newsletter: China's AI race enters a new phase
A new frontier is shaping up for companies that want to make money with artificial intelligence.
bbc.com
Are domes and spheres the future of entertainment?
Rivals are emerging for the Las Vegas Sphere - are domes and spheres the future for entertainment?
bbc.com
Millions of drivers mis-sold car finance to receive average £829 in compensation
The City regulator says 12.1 million mis-sold motor finance deals will be eligible for redress.
bbc.com
Why Chinese tech companies are racing to set up in Hong Kong
Mainland firms are using the territory to test products and as a springboard for global expansion.
bbc.com
The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high
Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
bbc.com
'Affordability is the biggest thing' - Conservatives mixed on economy under Trump
Conservatives gathered at the annual CPAC conference in Texas were mixed when asked about their feelings on the current economy.
bbc.com
The spiky cactus fruit giving Indian farmers a cash boost
Indian farmers are turning to dragon fruit as a profitable alternative to mangoes and coffee.
bbc.com
Who knew Lord Sugar is a table tennis fan?
The Apprentice candidates try to sell a table tennis set live on TV.
bbc.com
Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
bbc.com
The homeless teenager who became a successful advertising boss
Greg Daily has swapped sleeping on friends' sofas for running a popular digital marketing company.
bbc.com
Would you build your own apps?
Start-ups are offering tech for novices to create apps with the help of AI.
bbc.com
US weight-loss drugmakers slash prices in fight to win customers
Weight-loss drug prices are falling in the US - but can the example be repeated?
bbc.com
Germany has a shortage of workers - so it's turning to India for help
The European nation, struggling to find skilled staff, is giving jobs to young people from India.
bbc.com
'Club vibes without the hangover': The twenty-somethings going out - in the gym
Young people are driving a gym boom as more fitness spaces are transformed into vibrant hangouts.
bbc.com
Home working, long leases and rise of parking apps - what went wrong for NCP
How could a company that charged as much as £65 for a day's parking fail to turn a profit?
bbc.com
Colombia's budding tech scene needs a cash boost
Colombia has become a tech hub for Latin America, but attracting investors is a challenge.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
bbc.com
How Finnish supermarkets are central to the country's defence
The chains all have detailed plans to follow in the event of the nation going to war.
bbc.com
Is it possible to build a plastic-free home?
Using plastic in construction is cheap and easy, but some are trying to radically cut back its use.
bbc.com
Ukraine's urgent fight on the financial frontline
The war-torn country is battling to secure crucial funding from the IMF and EU, as well as putting up taxes.
bbc.com
Why has Trump eased sanctions on Russian oil - and will it help Putin?
The US said easing sanctions on Russian oil would provide only a limited financial boost to Putin.
bbc.com
Can plastic-eating fungi help clean up nappy waste?
Cost and convenience have made disposable nappies dominant - can start-ups compete?
cnbc.com
Register now: Applications open for the World's Top Fintech Companies 2026
CNBC and Statista chart the top fintech players from around the world, ranging from startups to Big Tech names.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
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